Give Mart a break… he’s not Superman

CRAIG GARDNER reckons Martin O’Neill is not Superman — but still has enough
power to pull Sunderland to safety.

Black Cats fans are certainly praying for a Man of Steel right now with the
club being sucked deep into relegation danger.

The struggling Wearsiders visit Norwich today with just two wins all season
and one of the weakest attacks in Europe.

Winning appears to be O’Neill’s Kryptonite at the moment as the former Aston
Villa boss has just four victories in 37 Premier League games since taking
over on December 6 last year.

Ex-Villa midfielder Gardner knows the Ulsterman better than most and reckons
the 60-year-old can turn Sunderland around and finally get them zooming up
the league.

Tuesday’s goalless draw with QPR ranks as one of the poorest shows of the
season.

But Gardner, 26, said: “Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon — there are a lot
of teams who are struggling for results.

“The gaffer has come here with a massive expectation after what he did at
Villa.

“But it was three or four years before he started challenging the top four.

“He has only been here a year. He’s not Superman but he’s an unbelievable
manager.

“Everyone is behind him. He’s a top-class manager with a top-class squad and I
don’t know why people are getting so hyped up about it.

“I have known and played under him for seven years.

“To be with him every day of the week, I think I know him quite well.

“He’s probably got more drive and determination now because he knows how well
he wants to do.

“It’s just the way he talks to you and gets the best out of you. His
determination brings out our determination. If you have a manager who is in
your face in the changing room and jumping about on the touchline, you are
half way there.”

Brummie Gardner added: “I can understand the fans looking at the table and
thinking there has been no progress.

“They have to be patient — we are in it together.

“It’s no good the fans booing, that’s not what we want. We just need to win a
couple of games.

“This is not a rallying call or a crisis call but you can understand it from
their point of view.

“We are going out every day working our socks off but it happens to every
single team.

“And we can assure the fans everything will be fine.”

O’Neill’s man-management skills are second to none with Gardner a case in
point.

The homesick former England Under-21 midfielder wanted to quit the Stadium of
Light under old boss Steve Bruce because he was desperate to get back to the
Midlands.

But O’Neill got him to stay and Gardner said: “Before Martin came I didn’t
want to be here.

“It’s not only me, though. He’s probably turned around the careers of two or
three players here.

“He’s done that for me — it’s the things he does which people don’t see.

“I’m still here and fighting because the gaffer is here.Everyone respects him
— even the ones who aren’t playing.

“People have little digs at the manager, but no one does here. Everyone
praises him. I wouldn’t say I have had a heart to heart with Martin — he
just said to me ‘You’re staying’.

“He said ‘It’s not the Middle East, it’s the North East — now go out and
train!’

“It’s not that I didn’t get on with anybody, it was just that I have always
been in the Midlands.

“It is three hours the other way. You’re away from your family and friends, a
place where I grew up and lived for 23 years.